“If the bear is not a threat just observe it, hopefully it passes through your yard,” said biologist Bryan. “If it’s hanging around, if it seems it’s interested in your place, do as much as you can to discourage the bear from hanging around your place. Make it uncomfortable for the bear.”
Bears are out and about again this summer, and that means it's important to be cautious when bears are nearby.
Bryan Reiley, the area wildlife biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Dillingham, said that if a bear is in your yard, the first thing to do is assess if it’s a threat to you or your property before doing anything.
“If the bear is not a threat just observe it, hopefully it passes through your yard,” said Reiley. “If it’s hanging around, if it seems it’s interested in your place, do as much as you can to discourage the bear from hanging around your place. Make it uncomfortable for the bear.”
If a bear is in the area, Reiley said the best thing to do is to scare it away as soon as possible.
“Whether it be making noise, yelling at the bear, firing a gun off or something like that to make it uncomfortable for the bear,” he said. “If you continuously see a bear around your house, there’s probably a reason that the bear is coming there and it’s important to assess why that’s happening.”
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Some bear attractants include birdseed, trash, hanging fish, or livestock such as chickens or goats. Reiley said the best way to dissuade the large critters from visiting your home is to limit these kinds of attractants.
“Maybe there’s some kind of food source that’s drawing the animal in,” Reiley said. “That should be dealt with as soon as possible to discourage the bear from continuing to come to your house.
Reiley reminds everyone that killing a bear in defense of life and property should be a last resort.
If a bear is killed, contact both Fish and Game as well as the Alaska State Troopers. More information about bear safety can be found on the Fish and Game’s website.
Contact the author at brian@kdlg.org or 907-842-2200.
